read my lips

[Felix Baxter]

the Sound of silence is all that is heard

Mayfair. Felix's shift closer to the city had not been an easy one, but work payed for his lodgings well enough. The art of forging was not a common one so he found himself busy with work. Building a proper reputation among those select few who required his services . . . though he did hope to build his trade to a wider customer base. Today, he had a job that he knew well not to judge. An eager mother who's daughter was debuting next season and . . . the mother wished for a crib for her future child. Confident that her daughter would find a match and marry, and even more confident that she would have a child soon. While carpentry was not his field of expertise, he was able to create what was needed. A tad bit premature indeed, but Felix would dare not remark on such a thing. As he made his way through the streets, he could only imagine the sounds. The sound of the horses trotting along the ground, some pulling a carriage with them. The chattering of the people. The vendors calling out to advertise their products. While he could hear none of it, it certainly held a different energy than the countryside. And . . . was indeed far more overwhelming than what he was accustomed to. Holding his back close, he lost count of the number of times someone brushed against his shoulder, nary an apology but Felix hardly expected one. He was after all, far outranked by most who populated this area. One particular brush however -- or more of a push -- caused him to stumble a bit, the uneven ground yet another aspect of the city he was unused to. It prompted him to turn his head to see the other and assess if he was upset by the commoner's impact. Unfortunately, the distraction made him lose focus of what was in front of him, turning his head forward only when he collided into a young woman. Felix's eyes widened in the horror of what he had done. It was with more fortunate luck -- in a rather unlucky circumstance -- that she had not fallen. He could quickly tell she was someone of rank, judging by her attire. Parting his lips to speak an apology, he felt someone grab the collar off his jacket. Turning to see the man who did so -- a man of high rank as well -- he managed to catch the words midsentence. "--me boy! How are you ignore me and act so inappropriately towards the woman!" The man had apparently reprimanded Felix earlier but his inability to hear, nor see the man's lips . . . understandably was interpreted as ignoring him. Fearful of looking away from the man so to miss anything else he may say, Felix continued to stare at him which . . . made the man more angry. "Apologize!" Felix quickly turned to look at the young woman. "S-sorry." He kept his words short -- yet sincere-- so that his speech impediment associated with his inability to hear would not be known. Feeling the man's breath, indicating he was talking and so Felix turned back to look at him, feeling the gentleman continue to clutch his coat, as if to ensure he would not run off. "Shall I call for a Bow Street Runner to address this man's foolery, Miss?" Whoever this older gentleman was, seemed to take great offense. Felix felt his heart beat heavier in his chest as his eyes met the woman's, wide and hopeful that there would be some compassion within her so to let this horrid mistake on his part, not hold such severe repercussions. tagged Francesca Bridgerton

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[Francesca Bridgerton]

read my lips

francesca & Felix

✿ Francesca Bridgerton ✿

"What a pleasant feeling to be home," she muttered under her breath as she walked through the streets of London with her servant by her side. She meant that sarcastically of course, it felt as though as soon as she returned from Bath everyone seemed to... have their own matters to attend to. While she could have paid Daphne a visit, she really was not in the mood to hear screaming babes after a long travel. And Eloise? Well, she has been occupied elsewhere these days... Maybe the stress from the upcoming season has finally caught up to her. It was something Francesca could not relate to quite frankly and suppose its best for Francesca's own sanity that Eloise is left to tend to her own matters.

Nevertheless, she was still irritated to be walking alone through the busy streets of London, with not even one of her seven siblings by her side. Francesca still managed graceful strides on the footpath despite being lost deep in her own thoughts, but this was soon challenged when she found herself colliding into unfamiliarity. No doubt her lovely servant had tried to stop her in time, unfortunately she just wasn't completely there to hear it.

As soon as she regained her composure the shock has faded but the irritation she felt prior remained, and ever growing. The other man's voice, the rather aggresive one, played a part in that. Not even a day has passed since she's returned to London and already she's met with unpleasantries! 
 
Francesca believed she understood men with exceptional clarity and there was nothing more clear than the strong air of arrogance that emitted from the other man. She bit the inner side of her bottom lip as to stop herself from saying anything unkind to him. This was quickly replaced with lips pursed in a peevish crease when she finally decided what to say.

"No need," she said firmly. She glanced at the poor commoner, his hopeful eyes was lost on her. Like any lady of nobility, she instead took note of his attire and the ... uncertainty in the way he carried himself. She knew immediately then that he did not belong, in more ways than one. She felt sorry for him for being in such a difficult situation such as this one. One that he certainly wasn't accustomed to, she naively assumed, from whatever kindness she saw from the lines of his face. 

She looked back at the aggresive man. "I suppose I should understand that it would be extremely difficult for one to keep their balance when they are being pushed and pulled around like a rag doll," she said with a thin smile on her lips as to suggest that it was merely said in jest. Though she meant to be unkindly.

"It is a wonder though -- " she looked back at man with his coat still clutched in the other's hands, " -- that I might find you here. I was on my way to your shop, Mama told me she requires your service and to find you immediately." Truth be told she did not know the man at all but Francesca rarely shy away from lying, under certain circumstances. This was one of them, she decided. She didn't know if he'll play the part, but she would rather err on the side of caution than be haunted by the thought of this man thrown in jail due to her mistake.

Blue eyes shifted to the hand still gripping tightly to the coat and she asked politely, "If you could please let him go? I have not much time!"
"

Mayfair, with Felix Baxter

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